Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-08-13
Cause of Drouth and Cyclone.
Viola, May Is, 1887.

From Hills National Builder.
During a recent journey to Europe
the passage across the ocean was es-
pecially unpleasant because of fogs,
the only consolationin contemplating
them being that they represented the
work of Nature in drawing moisture
from the water, which, waited inland,
fell upon the soil in refreshing rain,
gathered in the brooks and rivers and
flowed to the sea, to be again thus
sent back to freshen and brighten the
parched earth.
The speed of our vessel was materi-
ally retarded by winds from the
west, a common occurrence in the
summer season. The fogs and moist
ure through these winds are driven
upon the Continent, where drouth
seldom prevails, and particularly do
they freshen the verdure of Ireland,
and hence the brilliant green of the
Emerald Isle.
In rejecting upon this subject, 1
contemplated the drouth then pre-
vailing in several of the Western and
Middle States of the Union. What
had they to gather rain from? Alas,
what have they? For a generation
our farmers have been draining their
lands of moisture. They have run
tileing through every slough: they
have drawn out the water from every
swamp; they have dried up the
pond they. have obliterated the
beautiful little lake. In doing this
they have made such easy and rapid
egress for rainfall from the soil, as to
endanger the homes and farm lands
of all the settlers along the great riv-
ers in the Southern regions of our
country, already inficting great dis
tress, loss of life and property equal
ing in value many millions of dollars
an evil which is growing in magni.
tude each year.
The result of this wholesale drain.
ing of the upper country of water is
not only thus disastrous to life and
property along the larger stream;
from frequent overflow, but there i;
such absolute drainage of moisture
from the earth as to produce severe
drouth, accompanied by such intense
heat and dryness of atmosphere as re
suits in the hurricane, the cyclone
and innumerable village, prairie an(
forest fires.
In the early days when the process
of evaporation of moisture went for
ward from the swamps, the ponds
and lakes of our Western and Middl,
States, an extended drouth, with ex
tremely intense heat, was compar
atively rare. In those dayssun-strok
was very uncommon, and the cyclon,
was comparatively unknown. Thi
year we are in the second season 0
drouth in various portions of tn
country, while every year brings it
devastation from wind, the result O
an excessively dry and frequentl.
disturbed condition ofthe atmosphere
With the land thus denuded of ma
tural water supply, there is but on
course for our farmers to pursue t
save themselves from these evils
They may drain their soil, but the.
should gather the rainfall in pond
and lakes scattered throughout thei
lands. Instead of running the drain
through and out of the swamp, the.
should lead to an excavation of sue
size as circumstances will permit
which should be made at a depth G
four feet, where the water can gathe
and will remain throughout the year
quenching the thirst of animals, Civ
ing drink to birds, reservoir in case c
fire, a home for fish, a spot Of beaut.
on which may sail the boat, an OF
portunity for the bath and for teach
ing the young people to swim.
will yield the ice for the family, pre-